{"id":43028,"date":"2013-04-01T08:56:31","date_gmt":"2013-04-01T15:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.csifiles.com\/content\/?p=43028"},"modified":"2013-04-01T09:01:01","modified_gmt":"2013-04-01T16:01:01","slug":"interview-michael-fx-daley-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.csifiles.com\/content\/2013\/04\/interview-michael-fx-daley-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview: Michael FX Daley"},"content":{"rendered":"

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation<\/em> writers’ assistant\u00a0Michael F.X. Daley<\/strong> has four episodes under his belt as a writer, and won two awards for his contributions to the series–a 2008 Genesis Award and 2012 SET Award<\/a>. With credits on other series such as\u00a0Big Love<\/em> and\u00a0Reaper<\/em>, Daley’s episodes demonstrate his versatile writing style, being able to infuse comedic elements while staying true to the show’s dramatic tone. For his latest episode, “Sheltered,”<\/a> airing this week at 10pm on CBS, Daley got back to his darker roots, much like his debut episode “Lying Down With Dogs,”<\/a> that has several surprises in store.\u00a0Shane Saunders<\/strong> caught up with the writer to discuss the installment.<\/p>\n

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Writer Michael F.X. Daley on the set of his episode “Sheltered.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

CSI Files<\/strong>: \u201cSheltered\u201d is your fourth writing credit on\u00a0CSI<\/em>, and your first solo episode since Season Eleven\u2019s \u201cMan Up.\u201d<\/a> Walk me through the creative process of the episode. What were you looking to accomplish with this installment?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Michael FX Daley<\/strong>: As you can see in “Man Up” and even in much of “Split Decisions”<\/a>, I tend to lean toward comedy. \u00a0So this time out I \u00a0wanted to show my dramatic chops. \u00a0“Sheltered” was an attempt to flex that muscle. \u00a0To get into some real emotional drama. \u00a0I’m really proud of how it turned out.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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CSI Files<\/strong>: The previous episode, \u201cDead of the Class,\u201d<\/a> was character heavy, with an emphasis on the development of the David Phillips character. Were you looking to do a more crime-of-the-week, science-focused story with this one?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Daley<\/strong>: Actually, with “Dead of The Class” preceding me, it was more about swinging back from some of the comedic elements in that episode. \u00a0So now it was our shows goal to be more dramatic in my episode as well. \u00a0 We like to mix it up with episodes.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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CSI Files<\/strong>: Neal McDonough<\/strong> and Kate Danson<\/strong>, Ted Danson\u2019s (DB Russell) daughter, are featured this week. How did the idea of using Ted\u2019s daughter come about?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Daley<\/strong>: We tried to cast Neal McDonough before, but we weren’t able to. \u00a0This role needed a really strong actor, and he was perfect for the part.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Kate had actually auditioned two years ago for my episode “Man Up”, but wasn’t right for that part. \u00a0That was before Ted joined us. \u00a0Since he joined, we’d been hoping to find an opportunity to get her in, since she’s a great actress. \u00a0This character, a tough lawyer with a great scene up against her father, was perfect for her.<\/div>\n
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CSI<\/strong> Files<\/strong>: There\u2019s been some talk that she may recur. Is that still the plan?<\/div>\n
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It’s hard on our show to get reoccurring characters. \u00a0They usually kill or get killed. \u00a0But a lawyer is easy to bring back. \u00a0I’m sure that would make Ted happy as well. \u00a0He really enjoyed working with her.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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CSI Files<\/strong>:\u00a0This season has focused a bit more on Alimi Ballard<\/strong>\u2019s new character, Detective Crawford. Whereas in years past the show had a rotating list of detectives, what was the genesis of having Crawford and Brass at the center of this season?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Daley<\/strong>: It was just a scheduling conflict in my episode. \u00a0Brass was unavailable. \u00a0And Crawford has provided us with another Detective to use. \u00a0Especially when we do multiple cases.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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CSI Files:\u00a0<\/strong>Is there still a chance for Detective Vartann (Alex Carter<\/strong>) or Detective Moreno (Enrique Murciano<\/strong>) to appear in these final episodes?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Daley<\/strong>: Perhaps. \u00a0I know much comes down to scheduling.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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George Eads (Nick Stokes), director Louis Milito, and Elisabeth Harnois (Morgan Brody) on the set of “Sheltered.” (Photo: Michael F.X. Daley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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<\/center>CSI Files<\/strong>: You\u2019re working on a new pilot,\u00a0Jukebox Heroes<\/em><\/a>, which is in the process of raising money through Mobcaster. How is the project looking so far? Is this something you\u2019re trying produce for a web-based platform, or actually air on a television network?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Daley<\/strong>: Jukebox<\/em> is a show that myself and my co-creator Andy Black<\/strong> have tried to sell at cable networks \u2013 ABC Family, MTV\u2026 They all love the idea but no one bought it. \u00a0So we’re hoping to make a pilot ourselves, with crowd funding, and show what it can be. \u00a0Hopefully then it will find a home. \u00a0But it’s not planned to be a web series. \u00a0If anyone wants to check it out, go to:\u00a0http:\/\/mobcaster.com\/fundraise\/jukebox-heroes\/pilot<\/wbr><\/a>. \u00a0We’d love the support!<\/wbr><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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CSI Files<\/strong>: The short-lived but well-loved\u00a0Reaper<\/em>\u00a0was a show you worked on a few years back. Given the latest situation with\u00a0Veronica Mars<\/em>and its Kickstarter efforts, have you heard anything about trying to revive the show in any way, shape or form?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Daley<\/strong>:\u00a0I haven’t heard that, but maybe I should start it! \u00a0I loved Reaper<\/em>, even before I got to work on it. \u00a0I’d love to see it come back. And the finale, which I actually wrote, left a lot of questions unanswered, and really advanced the paradigm. \u00a0I’d love to see that get to play out, even if it was a movie.\u00a0\u00a0I know the creators have a pilot for ABC, Gothica<\/em>. \u00a0So they may be too busy right now. \u00a0But Veronica Mars<\/em> might be the way of the future. \u00a0It’s just good business to see what kind of an audience you can expect. \u00a0The internet is a place where the general population can really chime in on what they want to see.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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CSI Files<\/strong>: The season is winding down. What are some of your favorite moments from this season? Anything you would have liked to do, but weren\u2019t able to?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Daley<\/strong>:\u00a0I was happy we brought the dog on the team. \u00a0I’m a real dog lover (as is over half the staff) and Sam was great in his episode. \u00a0SPOILER: You may even see him in mine!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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I personally loved what we did with Sara’s character this year. \u00a0I know I’ll lose some GSRs off my Twitter<\/a> now, but Jorja Fox<\/strong>is an amazing actress and that was an incredible performance. \u00a0It’s time for Sara to become her own character, and not be defined by an off screen Grissom.<\/div>\n
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Writer Michael FX Daley and Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle) on the set of “Sheltered.” (Photo: Shelli Bergh)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Also, I was glad to see David Berman<\/strong> get to show his comedy chops in “Dead of the Class.” \u00a0That scene in the autopsy was brilliant, and I give Tom Mularz<\/strong> real props for that. \u00a0It’s been a great year all around. \u00a0I’m really proud of how strong the show is in season 13.<\/div>\n
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\u00a0CSI Files<\/strong>:\u00a0Going into these final episodes, what can viewers expect? How is the finale looking?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Daley<\/strong>: Here’s one teaser \u2013 you may see someone we haven’t seen\u00a0in years<\/em>\u00a0return in the finale\u2026 \u00a0(cryptic enough?)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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